16 Easy Ways to Cut Thanksgiving Calories

You’ve been doing so well, following your diet and exercise plan, getting ready for all the Holiday festivities, but you don’t want to overindulge on Thanksgiving and feel bad.  Me, personally, I have no self control at times, and there are those gateway foods that lead me down a bad path of destruction. I really have to limit myself or allow only certain indulgences, especially on Thanksgiving when I need just one (or two) pieces of Pumpkin Pie.  I also come from a big Hispanic family, and, while we love our family, they do a great job of making us feel bad for not eating.  Being on a diet or not eating something is like a sin in my culture, and God forbid, I’m called “Flaca”! Haha..

It’s not bad to indulge sometimes, but I am here to help provide some tips on saving yourself from overindulging on everything. If we can cut the calories and save ourselves some room in other areas, we can enjoy a little bigger piece of pie and maybe even some Thanksgiving leftovers! By making just a few minor adjustments, you can save yourself hundreds of calories. Use some of the tips below to reduce calories and fat while preserving all the yummy flavor.

1. Choose white meat over dark: If you’re a dark-meat eater, this one may be hard to swallow, but if you have no preference, opting for turkey breast (153 calories per four-ounce serving) over dark meat (183 calories per serving) will save you 30 calories.
2. Choose a different baste: Baste your turkey with low-sodium chicken broth or white wine instead of butter to cut calories and fat.
3. Keep your bird moist: Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before you carve it. If you immediately carve the turkey, the juices will run out, drying out the meat. A moister bird means less need for fatter, greasy gravy.
4. Skip the skin: Eating your turkey without the skin will save you 20 calories per serving.
5. Pick a healthier side: Fill up half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables like salad, green beans, spinach, or broccoli. Or opt for a serving of green bean casserole which is 148 calories over sweet potato casserole at 177 calories, and save 29 calories.
6. Swap ingredients in your stuffing:  Swap low-sodium chicken broth for most of the butter in your stuffing. Save at least 50 calories per serving and cut the fat in half. Add more vegetables to your stuffing. Onions, water chestnuts, mushrooms, carrots and celery are all tasty (and low-calorie) additions to substitute most of the bread.
7. Baking swaps: Oils and butter in these recipes can be substituted with apple sauce, bananas, or coconut oil and flours can be swapped with almond or coconut flour. Swap your milk and whipped cream with low fat milk, almond or coconut milk and lite of fat free cool whip.
8. Salad Dressing: Salads may seem super healthy, but just a tablespoon of some salad dressings can set you back 100 calories. Instead use reduced-calorie salad dressing, lemon juice, reduced-fat cottage cheese, or herb-flavored or wine vinegar.
9. Sour Cream, Mayonnaise: Use a plain fat free Greek yogurt–it has the same texture and similar flavor to both sour cream and mayonnaise.
10. Gravy: Put your gravy into the refrigerator before serving. Once it gets cold the fat will collect at the top, skim it off and serve.
11. Eat this dessert: Have a choice between pies? Having a slice of pumpkin pie instead of apple pie will save you 95 calories. Check out some healthier pumpkin pie versions.
12. Hold the à la mode: Instead of a scoop of vanilla ice cream (145 calories for a half-cup), go for fat free or lite cool whip at 16 calories for two tablespoons, and save 129 calories.
13. Choose your drink wisely: Celebrate with a glass of sparkling dry champagne instead of a Chardonnay, and save 22 calories per glass. Choose light beer and stay away from calorie and sugar filled mixers. You can also try some tasty shrubs or mocktails in place of wine.
14. Portion Control: If you have trouble with portion control, drink two large glasses of water right before you start your meal and continue to take sips throughout.
15. Don’t feel bad: We love our family, but sometimes they can be the worst critics when it comes to eating healthy. Stick to your guns and you’ll thank yourself when everyone else is napping and full and you’re ready for a walk.
16. Sneak in some exercise: I know you don’t want to hear this one, but sneaking in a run or walk before or after your Thanksgiving meal will make you feel a whole lot better and you can have that extra indulgence without feeling bad. No one is saying you have to run a marathon (but there are plenty of those on Thanksgiving as well), but a light workout or  just a walk with the family will help burn some extra calories.

And lastly, lets not forget that it IS the day of being Thankful, so let’s be grateful for what we have and the fact that we are able to walk, workout and eat some amazing food with family!

Hope everyone has a Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving !